SC Freiburg want to go into the European Cup games with a different attitude than when they last participated nine years ago.
“We are Germany’s representatives in Europe. But we didn’t see it that way back then. We wanted to play these games properly, the focus was completely on the Bundesliga. We want to do justice to this task as a figurehead now,” said sports director Klemens Hartenbach to the “kicker “. “Union Berlin in the Conference League and above all Eintracht Frankfurt as Europa League winners have shown what great competitions they can be.”
The requirements before the upcoming participation in the Europa League are different than last time.
“Five top performers left after qualifying for the Europa League in the summer of 2013. After that it was 80 percent a burden. There was the fear: how do we overcome the double burden,” Hartenbach recalled. “That will also play a major role this season. But the stability of the top performers, our quality and the size of the squad are completely different now.”
You are no longer afraid, “but respect – and an uncanny anticipation.”